Tape dispenser



Sept. 30, 1952 2, 612,322

TAPE DISPENSER Filed June 6, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

- A/oegyA/v A. 6 411.. W? W Patented Sept. 30, 1952 [U ITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE TAPE DISPENSER Norman A. Gall, Toledo, Ohio. 7

Application June 6, 1949, Serial No. 97,378

This invention relates to improvements in tape dispensers, and more particularly to a devicefor dispensing flexible tapeof the type carrying a pressure sensitive adhesive.

The primary object of the-invention is to provide a simpleand inexpensive device of this character which can be quickly loaded and which can be used easily and conveniently." I

A further object is to provide a device of'this character'which can be mounted on a belt-or other flexible carrier forming, a part of or attached to the garment of a user so as to becompletely available and convenientlyaccessible for use without-interfering with freemanual manipulations by the user preparatory to his use of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having an annular casing enclosing and rotatably receiving a roll of tape and having a circumferential opening therein, at one end of which i's'locateda projection to which-the leading end p'ortion of "the tape may be adhered and whose'end constitutes tapesevering *means.

Other objects will beapparent'from the-following 'specification.

In'the drawing:

Fig; 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on Fig. '3 is a side view of the device.

- Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention. 7

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tape-severing portion of the device.

Fig.6 is a fragmentary radial sectional view of a modified embodiment of a cylindrical device" embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the numeral designates a container which is preferably formed fromtwo cooperating similar cup-shaped parts. Each of these cup-shaped parts includes an end wall I I and a cylindrical wall portion 12. In the preferred embodiment, the end wall II is inwardly offset at [3 to define a concentric cylindrical shoulder portion [4 spaced from the cylindrical portion l2 a distance greater than the axial thicknessof the roll of tape. The roll of tape is provided with a tubular core 15 whose inner diameter is preferably slightly greater than the diameter of the roll I5 and a strip of tape I6 4 Claims. (Cl. .24255.5)

2 wound around said core and preferably having a clearance with the outer-cylindrical wall l2. If desired, the central portion vl3' of .each end wall may have an aperture ll formed therein,

as best illustrated in Figs. 2' and .3. e I

The cylindrical portions l2 of the two casing parts are adapted to interfit telescopically at least for'a portion of their extent- Thus, asbestiillustrated in Fig. 2, the portion 18- ofithe margin of the telescoped part I2 may be of reduced crosssectional dimension to fit snugly within and in contacting or frictional engagement with the inner face of the telescoping part; 12. By such a construction the "outer surface of the casing I0 is substantially. continuous and cylindrical. It

will be understood, however, that, if desired, the

telescoped, portion l2 may be of uniform diameter throughout its full extent and of a size less than the size of the telescoping portion l2. The extent to which the cylindrical partsl'2 telescope may belimited and substantially less thanthe axial dimension of the container I0 so that' each of the portions l2 will be of anaxial dimensionless than the axial dimension of the complete container.

- An alternative construction.isillustrated in Fig. 4 wherein the telescoping cylindrical portion is provided with an outwardly'ofiset circumferential ridge [9 defining a circumferential socketat its inner surface, into which an outwardly. offset tween the edges 2| thereof to any desired extent and preferably an extentof from 30 to and sufiicient to permit the tape [6 to be grasped: The v end walls I l are cut away'preferably along radially positioned lines 22, as best seen in Fig. 3, to a depth extending to or substantially to the shoulder l4. Thedepth of the cut-away'should be sufiicient to provide access to the edges of the tape upon the roll and'to the edges of the tube 15. The cut-away may extend through and inwardly with respect to the shoulder I4, but I prefer to terminate the cut-away at the outer end of said shoulder.

A tape anchor is mounted upon the container adjacent one end of the access opening therein,

jacent edges 2|, 22 of the access Opening of the container. The plate portion 26 is preferably of a width substantially equal to the width of the container, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, and has the edge 21 of the projecting portion thereof,

' which overlies the telescoped container part l2,'.

outwardly offset, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, for clearance between the same and'the tele-- scoped container portion 12, so that the project ing part of the tape anchor will have clearance with'the telescope container portion sufficient to avoid interference with the assembly and separation of thetwo casing portions. At its free or outer end, thetape anchor is bent at 28 to form I a'curved outer lip and a shoulder 29 at the base ,of said lip. 'The free edge '30 of the tap anchor which is spaced from the shoulder 29 and projects in the same' direction as said shoulder is prefer- -ably serrated.

The container provides means for substantially completely encasing a roll of tape l5, l6 toprotect the same while permitting access thereto at the opening formed in the end walls and cylindricalwalls defined by the edges 2i and 22. The

tube [5 upodwhich the tape is mounted has sufficient clearance with the roll I4 to permit free rotation of the tape roll within the container.

The inward projection of the shoulders i4 is sufficient to insure that the tape-mounting tube l5 will. have firm support and will be maintained at all times in substantially centered relation within the container, regardless of the amount of tape carried thereby.

In the normal use of the device, the leading or outer end portion 3| of the tape will be freed from the roll and adhered to the tape anchorat the shoulder 29 thereof, as best seen in Fig. 3. Said portion is thus held against release and protected against adhering contact with articles en- I g'aged by the container. At the same time, the free end portion of the tape may easily be grasped and released from the tap anchor and applied to a work piece. Upon the application of the tape to the work piece, bodily movement of the container relative to the point of anchorage to the tape end will cause the tape to be unrolled and played out tangentially from the roll 15, i 6 to the extent desired. During this unrolling action, the container is held in such a position that the tape anchor is clear of the tape being fed. Thereupon, when the tape is to be severed, the tape anchor may be brought into engagement with the tape in a manner to serve the tape at the serrated edge 30. This manipulation of the device permits the shoulder 29 to engage the newly formed end portion upon the tape adjacent the severed end edge so that special attention to retrieve said end portion is not required;

One of the outstanding advantages of this device is that it maybe attached to a belt, cord or other flexible carrier forming a part of or secured to the garment of a workman. Thus as the workman is handling the work piece, the

carrier will be suspended or positioned at his side and within easy reach, by said belt or cord. Until the workman has completed the manual manipulation necessary to wrap a package or to perform any other function preparatory to the use of the tape, he is free to use both hands for that purpose, and when the tape is required, can readily reach the container and position it for dispensing the tape. This enables aworkmanto move about from place to place rather than necessitating carr'ying of a work piece to a work bench or other work station, and relieves the workman from the constant attention usually required to carry a tape container or dispenser from place to place.

The device has various other advantages, including quick and easy re-loading. After the tape upon a roll has been exhausted, the casing parts can be separated for insertion of a new roll and then re-applied without requiring the manipulation of any securing or anchoring means for the casing parts. The large access opening, and the fact that this opening extends along the side edges of the roll as well as at its outer surface, facilitates manipulation of the roll to release its end portion from the roll and to feed it to the tape anchor in the position illustrated inFig.'3.

The Fig. 6 embodiment illustrates a construction wherein a two-part cylindrical container is employed and the interfitting cylindrical wall portions l2 areapertured at35. The outer wall preferably has integrally formed therewith an outwardly projecting loop portion 36 forming a journal for a pin 3-! which mounts one end of a closure plate 38. The closure plate 38 is adapted to span the openings and its terminal portions 39 preferably bears against the outer surface of the outercylindrical wall [2 adjacent the end of the aperture opposite that at which the loop is formed. A stop 40 is provided uponthe swinging closure to limit the pivotal movement thereof. This construction permits complete sealing or closing of the container andselective opening thereof with the closure member serving, when opened, as the means for severing the tape. The tape may be adhered to the inneriface of the closure member when the latter is closed. so that'opening of the closure shifts the tape to a readily accessible position.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that changes may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 1

1. A tape dispenser comprising a pair of cup- -shaped members each having an end portion and a substantially cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portions interfitting telescopically to define a container for encasing a tape roll, said container having a tape-discharging passage defined by registeringopenings in said cylindrical portions, and a tape anchor projecting outwardly from the telescoping cylindrical portion at one end of said tape-discharging passage said tape anchor extending substantially parallel to the axis of said container and overlying the telescoped cylindrical portion with clearance to accommodate separation of said cup-shaped members.

2. A tape dispenser comprising a pair of cupshaped members each having an end portion and a substantially cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portions interfitting telescopically to. de-

fine a container for encasing a tape roll, said container having a tape-discharging passage defined by registering openings in said cylindrical portions, a tape anchor projecting outwardly from the telescoping cylindrical portion at one end of said tape-discharging passage and overlying the adjacent telescoped cylindrical portion, said end portions each having an annular inwardly projecting shoulder fitting within and centering said tape roll and an opening in the central portion adapted to receive a carrier extending therethrough and through said tape roll.

3. A tape dispenser comprising a pair of cupshaped members each having an end portion and a substantially cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portions interfitting telescopically to define a container for encasing a tape roll, said container having a tape discharging passage defined by registering openings in said cylindrical portions, and a tape anchor projecting outwardly from the telescoping cylindrical portion at one end of said tape-discharging passage, said telescoping cylindrical portion being narrower than said assembled container and said tape anchor being fixed to and projecting axially from said telescoping portion to extend substantially full width of said container with clearance between its inner portion and said telescoped portion.

4. A tape dispenser comprising a pair of cupshaped members each having an end portion and a substantially cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portions interfitting telescopically to define a container for encasing a tape roll, said container having a, tape-discharging passage defined by registering openings in said cylindrical portions, and a tape anchor projecting outwardly from the telescoping cylindrical portion at one end of said tape-discharging passage, said tape anchor comprising a base portion secured to said telescoping portion and substantially coextensive therewith and a projecting portion of greater width than said base portion and extending across said telescoped portion with clearance, said projecting portion being bent at its free end portion to define an outer tape-severing edge and a tape-adhering shoulder spaced inwardly from said severing edge.

NORMAN A. GALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,166,352 Bauer Dec. 28, 1915 1,729,432 Anderson Sept. 24, 1929 1,836,593 Harvey Dec. 15, 1931 1,850,315 Crocker Mar. 22, 1932 1,934,185 Gilliam Nov. 7, 1933 2,430,744 Stewart Nov. 11, 1947 2,476,593 Gerbing July 19, 1949 2,484,673 Becker Oct. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 61,924 Sweden Jan. 26, 1922 

